OXFORD, Miss. – Miss University Mary Brandon Norman plans to showcase her
wardrobe and talent for this month’s Miss Mississippi Scholarship
Pageant in a free, public program Thursday (June 19) at the University
of Mississippi.
The send-off trunk show begins at 3:30 p.m. in Johnson Commons Ballroom, followed by a reception and autograph session.
“The trunk show is our way of honoring Miss University and letting her
know that the Ole Miss family is behind her as she competes for the
title of Miss Mississippi,” said Jennifer Taylor, director of campus
programming and local director of the Miss University pageant. Taylor
has worked with seven Miss Universities to help prepare them for Miss
Mississippi.
Norman, a third-year pharmacy student from Sumrall, plans to model nine
outfits during the show and present a recorded performance of her
talent, a gymnastics dance choreographed to “I Can Only Imagine.” Due
to limited space on the ballroom stage, Norman will not be able to
perform the routine live.
Since being crowned Miss University in February, Norman said she has
been working nonstop with Taylor to prepare for the state pageant,
scheduled for June 24-26 and 28 in Vicksburg, and enjoying the duties
of her new title.
“We are proud that Mary Brandon is representing the university at the Miss Mississippi pageant,” Taylor said. “Miss University has been very successful in receiving high recognition at the pageant for many years. Mary Brandon is the epitome of everything Miss University stands for: a woman of grace, beauty and integrity. I can honestly say that [she] is one of the hardest working and dedicated people I have ever known.”
Norman has also been active in raising awareness about her platform, March of Dimes, an organization that works to prevent premature births, complications and infant mortality using methods such as parent education, awareness, fundraising and research. For Norman, this is an issue that strikes close to home.
“It’s an organization that is so near and dear to my heart,” Norman said. “My younger cousin Brodie was born prematurely and has had several complications, but his perseverance and survival story is very motivational to me.”
In April, Norman organized the Oxford March for Babies charity walk on campus to increase awareness about premature births and complications, an event that raised $35,000 for the March of Dimes. Norman said that if she wins the Miss Mississippi title, she plans to incorporate March of Dimes into the Miss America Organization platform and the Children’s Miracle Network to continue promoting child and infant health and awareness. The Children’s Miracle Network is another personal cause for Norman.
“I am the oldest of six children,” she said. “My brother Patrick passed away at only three months old from spinal meningitis, and I feel that as Miss Mississippi I can be a spokesperson for both those organizations. I can give back not only to my community but to the state of Mississippi through the Miss America Organization that has already given so much to me.”
Norman, who has been involved in pageants since she was 12 and has paid for the last five years of her education primarily with pageant scholarships, competed in the 2007 Miss Mississippi pageant as Miss Hattiesburg.
“I got my feet wet and was able to see how things work,” Norman said. “For me, it’s more than just walking out on stage in a gown like a typical beauty pageant. It gives me the opportunity to better myself as a person, and I’m excited about going back this year and representing Ole Miss.”